Updated May 19, 2025, at 7:45 p.m.: State Representative Kim Kendall, R-St. Augustine, confirms The Upland, LLC has withdrawn its application for the proposed land swap that would have transferred 600 acres in the Guana River Wildlife Management Area into private hands. Action News Jax has obtained the following letter from Upland’s representative, which was sent to the state Department of Environmental Protection deputy secretary announcing the withdrawal.
In the northeast corner of Florida, just a stone’s throw from Jacksonville’s urban sprawl, lies the Guana River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) — a 10,000-acre expanse of salt marshes, maritime hammocks, and pine flatwoods.
This isn’t just a patch of green on the map; it’s a living, breathing testament to what Florida once was — and, with any luck, what it can still be. It’s a place where everyone is welcome and where wildlife not just survives, but thrives.
A Sanctuary for the Young and the Young at Heart
For children, Guana is an open-air classroom where the curriculum includes tracking gopher tortoises, identifying wading birds, and understanding the delicate balance of coastal ecosystems. The area is home to fish, manatees, wild boar, turkeys, deer, fox, alligators, and more.
The GTM Research Reserve‘s summer camp, “Adventures in the Estuary,” offers hands-on conservation activities, wildlife encounters, and eco-adventures that foster a love for nature and conservation.
Parents find in Guana a rare opportunity to disconnect from digital distractions and reconnect with nature and their families. It’s a place to build memories outside similar to our memories from growing up. Whether it’s a weekend hike or a quiet afternoon of birdwatching, the WMA provides a backdrop for meaningful experiences that are increasingly scarce in our fast-paced world.
Retirees, too, are drawn to Guana’s tranquil trails and abundant wildlife. It’s a place where one can find solace in the rustle of palmetto leaves and the distant call of an osprey — a natural antidote to the noise and haste of modern life. A place to watch rare and migratory birds.
An Asset to Education and Community
Local schools benefit immensely from the proximity of such a rich ecological resource. Field trips to Guana offer students firsthand experience with the subjects they study in textbooks, from biology to environmental science.
Teachers can leverage the WMA’s diverse habitats to inspire curiosity and foster a deeper understanding of the natural world. Nearby school athletic programs like Cross Country teams also benefit from the area’s vast trail system, giving student athletes a chance to interact with nature during grueling practices or competitions.
Summer camps and educational programs hosted within the WMA not only educate but also instill a sense of stewardship in young participants. These programs are crucial in cultivating the next generation of conservationists and informed citizens.
Mental Health and Wellness
Beyond its familial, educational, and recreational offerings, Guana serves as a sanctuary for mental well-being. Numerous studies highlight the psychological benefits of spending time in nature, including reduced stress, improved mood, and enhanced cognitive function.
In a time when mental health challenges are on the rise, access to natural spaces like Guana is more important than ever. Runners, hikers, cyclists, hunters, paddlers, surfers, boaters, fishermen, and nature enthusiasts all escape and connect with nature and wildlife there.
Beyond being a home for outdoor enthusiasts, Guana is a place where adults from all walks of life can seek refuge from life’s pressures and losses. Many find a walk along a riverbank or through its trails a great way to destress from work or the loss of a loved one.
A Legacy for Future Generations
The importance of preserving Guana extends beyond the present. As climate change and urban development continue to threaten natural habitats, protected areas like the WMA serve as critical refuges for biodiversity.
They also offer future generations the opportunity to experience the natural beauty and ecological richness that define Florida’s heritage.
A Call to Action
Recent proposals to exchange 600 acres of Guana’s protected land for parcels elsewhere in the state have sparked significant public outcry. Rumors abound that the aim of the project is yet another exclusive golf community that would enrich a few cunning investors and industry partners at the expense of an entire community.
Residents and environmental advocates argue that such a trade would not only disrupt the ecological integrity of the WMA but also set a dangerous precedent for the commodification of conservation lands.
The controversy underscores a fundamental question: What value do we place on our natural spaces and conservation land? Are they mere commodities to be traded, or are they irreplaceable assets that define our communities and enrich our lives?
As stewards of this land, it’s incumbent upon us to ensure that Guana remains a place where the wild things are and for man and nature to co-exist — for the benefit of all, now and in the future.
Your voice matters! Please sign the petition now at SaveGuanaNow.com (this link takes you directly to the petition).
SIGN THE PETITION TO SAVE GUANA
Email and call the following people and take a stand! A suggested email is pasted below. Email Governor DeSantis’ office or call (850)717-9337. You can also contact the Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC) members now, and tell them you oppose this swap:
- Alexis A. Lambert, Secretary, Florida Department of Environmental Protection: [email protected] or (850) 245-2118
- Bryan Bradner, Acting Deputy Secretary for Land and Recreation (ARC Chairperson): bryan.bradner@ FloridaDEP.gov or (850) 245-3046
- Dr. William Palmer, President, Tall Timbers Research Station: (850) 893-4153 x226
- Roger Young, Executive Director, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation: [email protected] or (850) 487-3796
- George Warthen, Chief Conservation Officer, FWC (ARC Designee): [email protected], [email protected], or (850) 487-3796
- Rick Dolan, Director, Florida Forest Service: [email protected] or (850) 681-5800
- Alissa Lotane, Director, Florida Division of Historical Resources / State Historic Preservation Officer: [email protected] or (850) 245-6357
- Lynetta Usher Griner, Officer, Usher Land & Timber Company: (352) 493-4221 or (352) 493-2568
Suggested email copy:
Dear (representative’s name),
As a long-time recreational user of Guana River State Park and the adjoining WMA, I was distraught by the proposal to swap 600 acres of this pristine coastal hardwood hammock for a collection of far less economically valuable tracts scattered across the state.
The North Florida community has already fought for years to limit the development bordering Guana along Lake Ponte Vedra on the existing 100-acre parcel when it was owned by Gate Petroleum. The idea of the state handing over an additional 600 acres of protected coastal oak hardwoods and wetlands to another developer is unfathomable.
The proposed swap parcel in Guana is heavily used public recreation land for local citizens. It’s frequented by hunters, hikers, bikers, birdwatchers, and anglers, a shining example of what undeveloped Florida used to look like. It has a rich cultural, historical, and archeological significance. I was particularly struck by the application questionnaire’s complete omission of this significance in questions 6-10 in the proposal document.
From DEPs own website. “The aquatic preserve contains archaeological and historic resources such as numerous aboriginal middens, burial grounds, and artifacts of aboriginal and Spanish colonial origin. This combination of natural and cultural resources provides an outstanding example of essentially natural Florida found nowhere else in the region.”
We know the entire area has a rich historical and archeological significance, from pre-history through today this coastal hammock has been home to human activity, don’t take away our kids’ ability to walk under the shade of those oaks like past generations have. This land is state-owned for public use, please do not give it away to another developer looking to profit off its destruction.
Anyone familiar with St. John’s County knows that land is at a premium in Ponte Vedra, lots in the area adjoining the WMA and park sell for over $1 million dollars. Even if the state wanted to get rid of this land the proposed swap would be a terrible economic one. The vague entity behind this “Upland LLC” would gain 600 acres of some of the most valuable real estate in the state in this trade for some rural parcels of mostly pine.
Please reject agenda item #4, the short-sighted proposal to swap land within the Guana Wildlife Management Area for a hodgepodge of less environmentally valuable lands around the state. This proposal would set a terrible precedent for Florida and undermine decades of effective conservation land acquisition.
Sincerely,
(your name)
Address (optional)
Email and phone (optional)
About the Author
Local mom and entrepreneur Jenny Schroeder is passionate about preserving the natural landscape and beautiful land throughout Northeast Florida.
